Browsing
Idioms starting with C
639 expressions
Cadillac problem
An insignificant problem of a privileged person.
cake and gingerbread
An easy or pleasant task or experience; a piece of cake.
cake crumbs
Hardly anything.
cake walk
Something extremely easy.
cakes and ale
The simple material pleasures of life.
call a lid
To inform the press that no further news will be released from a governmental body that da…
call a spade a spade
To put it bluntly, to be outspoken; to speak the truth, to describe things as they really …
call an audible
To change plans at the last minute in response to new information.
call it
To call it a day
call it a day
To cease an activity.
call it a night
To go to bed to sleep.
call it an early night
To go to bed or cease one's activities earlier in the evening than usual.
call it stumps
To decide to end an activity; to call it a day.
call off the dogs
To ease up on after inflicting great punishment.
call on
To visit (a person); to pay a call to.
call out
To specify, especially in detail.
call roll
To make a roll call; to take attendance.
call someone every name in the book
To call someone many abusive names.
call someone everything but a child of God
To call someone many abusive names.
call someone's bluff
To take action on the basis that another person is bluffing.
call someone's number
To focus on someone, asking them to prove themselves.
call to account
To challenge or contest; to hold answerable for something.
call to the bar
To admit (someone) to practice in the courts.
call up
To call on the telephone.
calm before the storm
A period of peace before a disturbance or crisis; an unnatural or false calm before a stor…
camel through the eye of a needle
Hyperbole to illustrate something that is impossible to do or to make happen.
camel's nose
A situation where the permitting of some small act will lead to a larger undesirable act o…
camp as a row of tents
Very camp, highly campy.
camp out
To wait or queue for something expected to occur, often overnight.
camp out on
To exert or maintain control over a website, domain name, wiki page, etc.
can it
To shut up, to be quiet; to quit doing something; to put an end to something.
can of corn
An easily caught fly ball.
can of worms
A complex, troublesome situation arising when a decision or action produces considerable s…
can't carry a tune in a bucket
Sings very badly.
can't get enough
Greatly enjoys; likes a lot.
can't help
To be unable to avoid a situation, or stop something from happening.
can't stand
cannot put up with
can't stand the sight of
To hate vehemently; to really despise.
can't wait
To eagerly anticipate; to find it hard to wait for a forthcoming pleasurable event.
canary fit
A highly emotional state of distress, anger, etc.
canary in a coal mine
Something whose sensitivity to adverse conditions makes it a useful early indicator of suc…
cancel someone's Christmas
To kill or destroy someone.
candle in the wind
A fragile or vulnerable thing, likely to be put in jeopardy.
cannot make it
Cannot reach satisfactory or expected standards or do something competently; describes som…
cap in hand
In a humble and respectful manner.
cap it all off
To finish or complete something; to add a finishing touch.
cap over the windmill
In a bizarre or eccentric manner.
captain's pick
A decision made by a leader without consulting others.
carbon burning
The nucleosynthesis process, in stars of greater than 8 solar mass that have exhausted the…
carbonated water
Water that contains carbon dioxide dissolved in it under pressure and is intended for drin…
card of ten
A bold front, an instance of standing one's ground.
care a button
To care (at all).
care a jackstraw
To care (at all).
care a whit
To care for something, to have interest or concern for something or someone.
care package
A package sent from home or from friends or family, containing favorite foods or comfort i…
carriage trade
Wealthy or upper-class people in general.
carried away
Made excessively emotional or excited, so that one goes too far.
carrot and stick
The simultaneous rewarding of good behavior and punishing of bad behavior.
carry a torch
To love or to be romantically infatuated with, especially when such feelings are not recip…
carry away
To be so excited that one is no longer in control of one's actions or behavior.
carry coals to Newcastle
To do something that is unneeded or redundant.
carry forward
To transfer to a new page, column, ledger, or similar entity.
carry off
To act convincingly; to succeed at giving the impression of (e.g.) knowledge, confidence, …
carry on
To take baggage or luggage onto an airplane, rather than check it.
carry one's weight
To contribute or produce one's fair share, as of work, money, etc.
carry oneself
To move, especially emphasizing the manner in which one moves.
carry out
To fulfill.
carry over
To transfer (something) to a later point in time.
carry someone's water
To do someone's bidding; to serve someone's interests.
carry the ball
To lead in terms of responsibility, initiative, or progress.
carry the can
To take responsibility, especially in a challenging situation.
carry the mail
To work diligently; to serve as the principal performer of a demanding task or set of task…
carry through
To manage to execute; to perform successfully, all the way to the end.
carry water for
To perform menial tasks for; to serve; to assist; to be forced by politics or pragmatism t…
carved in stone
Unchangeable.
case the joint
To thoroughly observe or examine a place, in order to familiarize oneself with its working…
cash in one's chips
To discontinue an activity, accepting whatever gains or losses one has incurred; to give u…
cash on the barrelhead
Money in the form of paper currency or coins, paid immediately at the time and place of a …
cash up
to count the money taken by a business at the end of the day.
cashed up
Rich; having a high income; suddenly in possession of a large amount of money.
cast a chill
To provoke an uneasy feeling which stops a conversation, as by an uncalled act or word.
cast a shadow
To dampen future events.
cast aside
Synonym of discard.
cast aspersions
To make damaging or spiteful remarks.
cast in concrete
solidly established, very difficult to alter
cast in someone's teeth
To accuse someone of something, or reproach them for it.
cast loose
To unfasten, loosen, or set free.
cast of thousands
A large number of people in one place or carrying out one action.
cast one's bread upon the waters
To perform a kind deed or favor without the motivation of any immediate reward or benefit …
cast one's mind back
To try to remember a particular time or event; to think about something in the past.
cast one's vote
To vote for something.
cast over
To ponder; to consider or think about.
cast pearls before swine
To give things of value to those who will not understand or appreciate them.
cast snowballs
To be distant or reserved.
cast the first stone
To act self-righteously in accusing another person, believing oneself to be blameless.
cast up one's accounts
To vomit.
castle in the air
A desire, idea, or plan that is unlikely to ever be realized; a visionary project or schem…
cat and dog life
An unhappy married life marked by arguments and disagreements.
cat got someone's tongue
Why is someone not saying anything?
cat in the meal-tub
Something concealed; a hidden danger.
cat piss
Any beverage of low quality.
cat that ate the canary
A person who appears self-satisfied or smug, especially while concealing something mischie…
cat's cradle
Any complicated structure that appears to be without purpose.
cat's meow
A self-satisfied person.
catbird seat
An enviable position, often one of great advantage.
catch a body
to kill, to murder
catch a break
To experience the minimal amount of good luck or a favorable outcome.
catch a case
To be infected with a disease; used with of.
catch a cold
To contract a cold.
catch a date
Of a prostitute, to secure a client who is willing to pay for services.
catch a fade
To get knocked out (struck and rendered unconscious).
catch a falling knife
To buy a financial instrument whose price is falling rapidly.
catch a packet
To be fired upon.
catch a stray
To be unexpectedly and casually insulted in a seemingly unrelated discussion or argument.
catch a wave
To derive benefit from a fortunate opportunity; to experience a sudden increase in energy …
catch air
To make a jump.
catch as catch can
To use any available means or methods.
catch big air
(Extreme sports) Superlative of catch air; make a big jump high off the ground
catch dust
To be rarely used.
catch feelings
To suddenly begin to feel romantic attraction (towards).
catch fire
To become engulfed in flames, to combust.
catch flies
To have one's mouth wide open for a prolonged period.
catch hands
To take a punch; to get hit, especially with the hand or fist.
catch heat
To get into trouble with somebody; to be scolded or chastised.
catch hell
To be severely reprimanded, punished, or beaten.
catch it
To be severely reprimanded, punished, or beaten.
catch napping
To surprise; to take advantage of the lack of watchfulness of.
catch of the day
A person who is a popular or desirable choice to be a partner in a prospective marital or …
catch on
To understand; to begin to understand; to realize.
catch one's death
To contract a serious illness, especially a nasty cold or other respiratory ailment and es…
catch red-handed
To discover or capture someone in the act of committing a crime.
catch sight of
to see for a brief period; to get a glimpse of
catch some rays
To sunbathe.
catch some z's
To sleep.
catch someone napping
To take advantage of someone's inattention.
catch someone's drift
To understand the meaning or implications of someone’s pronouncement.
catch someone's eye
To capture someone's attention.
catch the eye
To attract the attention
catch the sun
To sunbathe.
cattle call
An audition which is open to the public and thus draws a large number of applicants, many …
caucus race
A laborious but arbitrary and futile activity; an activity that amounts to running around …
caught short
unprepared or without enough of something when it is needed
caught up
Involuntarily involved in a situation.
caught with one's pants down
Caught off guard, unprepared, or in an embarrassing situation.
cautionary tale
A story, originally told in folklore, to warn its audience of a certain danger.
caviar to the general
Something of quality unbefitting to those who possess it.
cede the field
To withdraw from any confrontational or potentially confrontational situation; to avoid pa…
Celtic curse
Hemochromatosis.
center field
A central role in some activity that requires speed.
chalk and cheese
Said of things that are very different, though possibly superficially alike.
chalk off
To record a score or event, as if on a chalkboard.
chalk something up to experience
To take a lesson from a bad outcome instead of grieving it.
chalk up to
To attribute or account for something; to ascribe.
champ at the bit
To show impatience or frustration when delayed.
champagne taste on a beer budget
Expensive desires or preferences which one lacks the finances to fulfill satisfactorily.
chance upon
To find (someone or something) by chance.
chance'd be a fine thing
Synonym of no chance or fat chance, with a somewhat more cheerful attitude.
chances are
It is likely that, it is probable that
change collars
To change or shift one's career path.
change hands
To become the property of someone else; to be bought or sold.
change horses in midstream
To change one's plan or approach when an effort is already underway or at another inopport…
change of clothes
A set of clothes in addition to those already worn.
change of heart
A change of one's opinion, belief or decision.
change of life
Menopause.
change of pace
A shift from one activity to another
change of scenery
A movement from one location to another.
change of tack
A reversal of an opinion.
change one's battery
To alter the direction of attacking; to take a new approach to try to achieve an objective…
change one's mind
To decide differently than one had decided before.
change one's story
To give an account of events different from the one previously recounted.
change one's tune
To reconsider; rethink; to reach a different conclusion.
change over
to convert to, to make a transition from one system to another
change someone's mind
To convince someone to make a choice or develop a preference differing from their previous…
change the channel
To redirect someone’s attention.
change the game
To revolutionize a field of endeavor.
chaotic neutral
An individual who prioritizes personal freedom and individualism above all else.
character assassination
A malicious discourse designed to damage the reputation of someone.
charge down
To lose electrical power
charge up
To motivate, to instill someone with determination.
charity begins at home
One should help the people closest to oneself before thinking of helping others.
charity mugger
A person employed by a charity, or by an intermediary fundraising agency employed by the c…
charley horse
A muscle cramp, usually a strong one, in the thigh, leg, arm, or core.
charm offensive
A campaign of deliberately using charm and flattery in order to achieve some goal, especia…
charm the birds from the trees
To behave in a very charming manner.
charmed life
A life in which one is always lucky and safe from danger.
chase a rainbow
To pursue something illusory, impractical, or impossible.
chase after
To pursue someone with romantic intentions; to woo.
chase away
To get rid of.
chase off
To drive someone or something away.
chase one's tail
To busily try to perform many tasks or to repeatedly revise one's plans, especially with i…
chase rainbows
To pursue unrealistic or fanciful goals.
chase tail
To be on the hunt for a (usually sexual) partner.
chase the dragon
To chase after the promise of a continually fulfilling high from an addictive substance.
chat up
To talk to (someone) in a friendly, open, or casual manner, sometimes also in a charming o…
cheap drunk
Someone who is easily intoxicated.
cheap thrill
Something simple and inexpensive done for pleasure.
cheap-arse Tuesday
The day of the week (Tuesday) when establishments such as cinemas, restaurants, etc, offer…
cheaper by the dozen
Handled more efficiently as a group, rather than individually.
cheat on
To be unfaithful to, especially in a romantic relationship.
cheat sheet
Any summary or quick reference used as a shortcut or reminder, such as an aid for public s…
check and balance
The mutual oversight provided by a system of independent organizations with control over e…
check is in the mail
A common excuse used by debtors to put off creditors.
check the math
To verify the source or accuracy of something.
check through
To permit someone to continue onward, e.g. through a security checkpoint, after verifying …
checkup from the neck up
The analysis of one's own thoughts or beliefs with a view to reforming oneself.
cheek by jowl
Tightly packed.
cheeky monkey
An impudent person, usually a child.
cheer up
To become happier or less downcast.
cheese tax
A portion of cheese given to a domestic animal such as a dog or cat, usually when the chee…
cheesed off
Annoyed, upset, angry.
cherry on top
Synonym of icing on the cake (“a thing which intensifies the appreciation of something alr…
chess piece
A person being manipulated by another, being used to some end.
chesterfield rugby
Sexual activity.
chew off
To reprimand, to scold
chew on
To consider, to ponder.
chew the cud
To meditate or ponder before answering; to be deep in thought; to ruminate.
chew the meat and spit out the bones
To take in a great deal of information and selectively disregard some of it as invalid or …
chew the scenery
To display excessive emotion or to act in an exaggerated manner while performing; to be me…
chew up
To ruin (especially land), by digging.
chicken feed
A very small or insignificant quantity, especially of money.
chicken out
To shy away from a daring task; to decline, refuse, or avoid something due to fear or unce…
chicken scratch
Cramped or illegible handwriting.
child's play
Something particularly easy or simple.
chill to the bone
To make someone extremely cold, or to be extremely cold.
chilly climate
A male-dominated environment where both overt and subtle forms of discrimination lead to t…
chime in
To talk; to join in conversation or discussion.
China syndrome
A hypothetical kind of catastrophic failure in which a nuclear reactor melts through the f…
China's final warning
A warning that carries no real consequences; an empty threat.
Chinaman's chance
No chance; zero possibility.
Chinese compliment
A pretense of deference; a veiled or subtle insult.
Chinese green
Synonym of lokao.
Chinese overtime
Any form of overtime in which increasing the hours worked reduces the hourly rate.
Chinese puzzle
A senseless situation.
Chinese Wall
An information barrier within an organization, designed to ensure internal confidentiality…
Chinese water torture
Any repeated irritation that builds to deliver cumulative damage.
chink in the armor
A weakness; a weak point (particularly of something formerly considered near-invincible or…
chink up
To fill cracks in something, for example a wall.
chip away
To reduce or weaken bit by bit; often used with at.
chip in
To make a contribution; help in a small way; especially, to pay for a part of something.
chip off the old block
Someone who takes after one of their parents; (generally) a person similar to another.
chip on one's shoulder
A habitually combative attitude, usually because of a harbored grievance, a sense of infer…
chip shot
Something that is easy to do or to achieve.
chip up
To cause something to have chips, cracks or dents.
chirk up
To make more cheerful; to cause to perk up.
chocolate teapot
Something totally useless.
choke off
To get rid of; to cause to come to an end.
choke the chicken
To masturbate by stimulating one's penis.
choose one's fighter
To select something as one's preferred choice from a set of related things, people etc.
choose up
To form (sides or teams), usually for a game, by having two individual players choose thei…
choose violence
To disrespect or insult someone in a particularly audacious and unexpected manner.
chop down
To curtail, shorten
chopped liver
A person or object not worthy of being noticed; someone or something insignificant.
Christmas come early
Something very delightful or fortunate that is happening or has happened, especially earli…
Christmas graduate
A freshman who drops out of college at the end of the first semester.
Christmas tree bill
A bill consisting of many riders that attracts many, often unrelated, floor amendments, wh…
chrome dome
A bald head.
chrome horn
The front bumper of a car when used to bump another vehicle, usually to inform the driver …
chum in the water
Synonym of blood in the water.
chum up
To be friendly toward (with or to) someone, especially in an ingratiating way; to form a f…
chump change
An amount of remuneration, reward, or other monetary recompense considered to be insulting…
circle back
To return to a previous location or state; to come back to.
circle the drain
To be in a rapid decline or in a state of downfall, especially as leading to an inevitable…
circle the wagons
To prepare to defend against an attack or criticism.
circuit slugger
A talented baseball batter who hits home runs.
circular file
The trash container; the wastebasket.
circular firing squad
A political party or other group experiencing considerable disarray because the members ar…
civil tongue
A polite manner of speaking.
claim someone's life
To lead to someone's death.
claim to fame
That for which one has bragging rights; one’s reason for being well-known or famous.
clamp down on
To take measures to stop (something); to put an end to (something); to exert tighter contr…
clap eyes on
To see; to lay eyes on.
clap one's hands red
To clap or applaud intensely.
clash of the ash
hurling (the sport)
class clown
A student who frequently makes jokes or pokes fun; a wiseacre.
clean as a hound's tooth
Very clean.
clean as a whistle
Very clean.
clean break
The complete termination of a relationship, or an exit from a situation.
clean hands
Freedom from guilt, especially from the guilt of dishonesty in money matters, or of bribe-…
clean money
Money that is legally or honestly gained or earned.
clean someone's clock
To defeat someone decisively, in a physical fight or other competition or negotiation.
clean up
To become clean, handsome, smart in appearance, e.g. for a special occasion, especially wh…
clean up one's act
To reform; to improve one's habits.
clear blue water
An obvious, unambiguous divide between the policies of two parties.
clear cut
Straightforward, obvious, simple, or basic.
clear off
To pay off debts.
clear one's lines
To clear the ball away from a dangerous position.
clear the air
To assuage a hostile or uncomfortable situation.
clear the table
To remove plates, etc. from a table after a meal.
click into gear
To start to perform effectively or to progress
climb down
To abandon, withdraw from, or soften a previously expressed opinion, argument, etc.
climb the walls
To behave in a distressed or frantic manner; to exhibit great agitation.
clip it
To move swiftly.
clip someone's wings
To restrict someone's freedom.
clock in
To be measured at.
clock is ticking
Time is running out; a deadline is approaching.
clock the tea
To discover the truth about something.
clog up
To block something completely and physically.
close enough for government work
Adequate; acceptable as government work, imperfect but not worth the time nor effort of im…
close in on
To enclose around; to tighten or shrink; to collapse.
close on the heels of
Near in time or place; very close.
close one eye
to look the other way, to deliberately ignore or overlook (a mistake or transgression).
close one's eyes
To ignore something.
close one's mind
To refuse to understand things.
close season
A situation or period in which some activity is forbidden or discontinued.
close the book on
To stop worrying about or trying to do something about; to ignore.
close the books
To finalize the financial records for a specific accounting period; to cease trading.
close the face
To turn the face of the bat inwards, in order to hit the ball to the leg side.
close the stable door after the horse has bolted
To attempt to prevent a problem that has already occurred; to design and implement a preve…
close to home
Affecting people close to, or within, one's family circle.
close, but no cigar
Used to indicate that one is almost correct or has almost succeeded, but not quite.
closed book
A person or thing that cannot be easily understood; someone or something incomprehensible …
closet case
A person who conceals or denies their sexuality or gender identity.
clothespin vote
A vote that is cast for a given candidate despite personal reservations or a distaste for …
cloud nine
Often in the phrase on cloud nine: a state of bliss, elation or happiness.
cloud seven
Often in the phrase on cloud seven: a state of bliss, elation or happiness.
clout list
A usually secret list containing the names of people who are to be given special access, b…
clue stick
A metaphorical stick used to beat information or understanding into a slow learner.
clutch artist
A person who drives a motor vehicle, especially one equipped with a manual transmission, i…
coals to Newcastle
A pointless venture, in the sense of sending something to a place where it is made, or whe…
cobbler, keep to your last
One should not criticise matters outside one's field of expertise; one should mind one's b…
cock a snook
To perform a snook, a gesture of disrespect.
cock cheese
Smegma or dried semen on the glans penis, usually underneath the foreskin.
cock in the henhouse
A man in a situation where he has access to many women, presumably intending to seduce the…
cock of the roost
A proud or conceited person.
cock of the walk
A proud or conceited person.
cock off
To leave, to go away. (usually imperative)
cock one's toes
To die.
cock-and-bull story
A far-fetched and fanciful story or tale of highly dubious validity.
coffee money
A small amount of money given as a bribe or gratuity.
coffee talk
Informal conversation among friends or acquaintances, of the kind that occurs in a casual …
coil up
to make, or become, coiled
coke dick
Erectile dysfunction caused by cocaine use.
cold cash
Money, regarded as an incentive that can override any doubts or ethical concerns.
cold chills
Feelings of fear.
cold comfort
Much less reassurance, consolation, aid, or pleasure than one needs or desires.
cold day in Hell
The time of occurrence of an event that will never happen.
cold fish
A heartless individual; a person lacking empathy and emotion.
cold hand
Used in reference to a player who fails to make successful shots in a game.
cold hard cash
Money, regarded as an incentive that can override any doubts or ethical concerns.
cold one
A beer; usually, a cold beer straight from a refrigerator or cooler.
cold shoulder
To deliberately slight or snub someone.
cold snap
A short and sudden period of cold weather.
cold treatment
Cold shoulder.
cold turkey
Not gradually; all at once; referring especially to quitting a habit by force of will rath…
collect dust
To remain untouched and unused for a long period of time.
collect one's thoughts
To become mentally composed, especially after being distressed, surprised, or disoriented;…
comb through
To examine scrupulously.
come a cropper
To suffer some accident or misfortune; to fail.
come a long way
To make significant progress.
come across
To give an appearance or impression; to project a certain image; to seem or appear (to be …
come again
A polite formula used when one has not heard or understood what has been said, or to indic…
come alive
to become responsive and animated.
come along
To arise, appear (make an appearance), come into being.
come and go
To repeatedly appear and disappear; to be transient.
come apart at the seams
Synonym of fall apart.
come around
To change one's mind, especially to begin to agree or appreciate what one was reluctant to…
come back from the dead
To experience a resurgence after one's productive years are assumed to have ended.
come clean
To confess; admit the truth.
come down
To return from an elevated state of consciousness (especially when drug-induced) or emotio…
come down in stair rods
To rain heavily in long streaks.
come down to
To entirely depend upon a single factor; basically, ultimately or in essence.
come down to earth
To be brought back to reality; to emerge from a daydream.
come down to us
To survive to the present day; to be extant in some form.
come first
To win first place in a competition.
come forward
To offer help or information, especially about a crime.
come from a Cracker Jack box
To obtain or retrieve something that is useless, cheap or fake.
come from a good place
To be motivated by decency, kindness, or good intentions.
come full circle
To make a complete change or reform.
come hell or high water
Regardless of the hardships; no matter what difficulties may arise.
come home by weeping cross
To return in disappointment, or in a spirit of contrition.
come home to roost
To have negative consequences (of an action in the past).
come in from the cold
Of a spy: to return home after having gone undercover in enemy territory.
come in handy
To prove to be useful or helpful.
come in hot
To enter the scene of conflict quickly and aggressively.
come into being
To form; to start to exist.
come into one's own
To reach a stage of development or maturity where one has achieved strength and confidence…
come into the world
To be born.
come knocking
To arrive unanticipated and uninvited.
come of age
To reach a specific age where one is legally considered to be an adult.
come on
To show sexual or relational interest through words or sometimes actions.
come on over
to visit someone's home or other location.
come on strong
To approach with a lot of energy.
come online
To enter service or become active.
come out
To come out of the closet.
come out in the wash
Of problems or difficulties, to work out, resolve, or become understood eventually and nat…
come out of one's shell
To become more socially active or gregarious.
come out of the broom closet
To publicly reveal that one is a Wiccan or some other type of neopagan.
come out of the closet
To disclose to others about one's sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender iden…
come out of the woodwork
To appear or emerge unexpectedly or inexplicably, frequently in large numbers or quantity.
come out swinging
To initiate an encounter or interaction by behaving in an unrestrainedly aggressive, confr…
come right
to have a successful or satisfying conclusion; to end well
come the old soldier
Often followed by with: to deceive, impose upon, or take advantage of someone, as if explo…
come thick and fast
To arrive rapidly in large groups.
come through
To survive, to endure.
come to
To recover consciousness after fainting etc.
come to a close
To draw toward a conclusion; to end.
come to a head
To rapidly reach a turning point or climax.
come to a sticky end
To die unpleasantly due to one's actions.
come to an end
To stop; to cease; to no longer continue.
come to blows
To fight; to initiate physical conflict, especially subsequent to escalating tension or an…
come to grief
To suffer a disastrous outcome.
come to grips with
To confront or deal with directly; to commence a confrontation.
come to Jesus
To experience or display a conversion or recommitment to Christianity or to undergo a rela…
come to life
To become alive, to be given life; to be brought into existence.
come to light
To become known; to be revealed.
come to mention it
What you just said reminds me of something; Used to justify a change of subject or a kind …
come to mind
To appear in one's thoughts.
come to nothing
To fail completely; to have no result.
come to nought
To fail completely; to have no successful result.
come to one's senses
To reawaken after having lost consciousness.
come to oneself
To gain consciousness or self-control.
come to papa
Used to encourage someone or something to approach, or an event to occur.
come to pass
To happen; to occur.
come to power
To be installed in high office, for example as a king, president, or prime minister.
come to someone's aid
To assist and rescue someone.
come to someone's rescue
To rescue (or save) someone from further harm.
come to terms
To reach an agreement or settle a dispute.
come to terms with
To resolve a conflict with.
come to think of it
By the way; now that I think about it; indicates something brought to mind.
come to time
To maintain an appointment; to meet expectations.
come unhinged
To become angered or crazy; to lose control of one's senses or sanity.
come unstuck
To get into trouble, to have an accident or mishap, to go off the rails.
come up
To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly.
come up and bite
To be extremely obvious to (someone), to be impossible for (someone) to miss and ignore.
come up roses
To enter into a condition or situation which is favorable; to develop in a pleasing or adv…
come up with
To manage to produce, deliver, or present (something) by inventing, creating, thinking of,…
come up with snake eyes
To fail to come up with anything; to get nowhere.
come up with the goods
To produce what was expected or required.
come what may
In spite of anything that might happen; whatever may occur.
come with the territory
To be a common, and often inconvenient, accompaniment of an occupation, situation, or occu…
comedy gold
Something that is very funny or humorous.
comedy of errors
A series of amusing or farcical events involving awkward missteps or other mistakes.
comfort girl
A female sex slave; prostitute.
comfort woman
A woman forced, or supposedly recruited, into brothels by the Japanese occupation forces b…
comfort zone
The range of circumstances in which a person feels relaxed or able to cope.
comfortable in one's own skin
Relaxed and confident in one's manner of presenting oneself and interacting with others; c…
comfortably off
Reasonably wealthy; well off.
coming and going
A general bustle of activity.
coming into the world
The act of being born; a birth.
coming right up
Used by the speaker to indicate readiness to provide something ordered or requested.
command performance
A task, activity, or other assignment which one undertakes in order to satisfy someone in …
common ground
A characteristic or interest shared by multiple people or systems; any belief, etc. held i…
common or garden variety
An ordinary, standard kind.
common purse
A shared or community fund.
common run
Ordinary persons, things, or events.
common touch
The personal quality of showing understanding of and sympathy for the concerns of ordinary…
company town
A town, city, or other municipality in which a single large business has a controlling inf…
compare notes
To exchange information and ideas about related experiences.
complete and utter
Used to intensify; absolute; total.
completely and utterly
Totally; entirely.
concrete jungle
An urban or other populated area containing a high density of buildings constructed of con…
confront one's demons
To work through past experiences that have left emotional scars.
connect the dots
To make connections in one's mind, in order to arrive at a more holistic understanding of …
connect up
To join together, to connect.
connecting rod
A rod, inside a reciprocating engine, that connects a piston to the crankshaft.
conscience money
Money which is voluntarily paid by a party who feels guilt, and seeks to provide compensat…
consenting adult
A person over the age of consent who willingly has sex.
considering cap
An imaginary hat worn to aid careful thought or deliberation.
contain multitudes
To have a complex and apparently paradoxical nature; to be inconsistent, especially in a w…
cook someone's goose
To spoil one's plans or hope of success.
cook the books
To manipulate accounting information, especially illegally.
cook up a storm
To make a big fuss, generate a lot of unnecessary talk or activity; make a scene.
cooking with gas
Functioning particularly effectively; achieving something substantial.
cool cat
A person who performs or appreciates jazz, especially one whose style of speech and moveme…
cool head
A calm, focused demeanor and mindset; a person having such characteristics.
cool one's heels
To wait, especially impatiently or restlessly.
cool one's jets
To become less excited, intense, or active; to exercise self-restraint.
coon's age
A very long time.
cop on
To stop behaving immaturely; behave, grow up.
cop one's whack
To die.
cop oneself on
to cop on, stop behaving immaturely
cop out
To avoid or shirk, either by failing to perform, or by performing in a grossly insufficien…
corner the market
To monopolize a resource or commodity, as with the intent of driving up prices.
corporate ladder
The hierarchy or ranking system of employment positions within a business organization; es…
corporate welfare bum
A business corporation or business executive receiving significant financial assistance fr…
corporation pop
Water, specifically drinking water supplied by a public utility company.
cost the earth
To be a huge expense.
cotton to
To like; approve of, accept, or tolerate.
couch potato
A person who spends a lot of time sitting or lying down, often watching television, eating…
cough up
To reluctantly or unwillingly give.
could not get elected dogcatcher
Said of someone, particularly a politician, who is extremely unpopular.
couldn't be more different
Two entities that have virtually nothing in common.
couldn't care less
To not care at all; to have no interest or concern; to be apathetic.
couldn't carry a note in a bucket
Not musically talented, unable to sing.
couldn't happen to a nicer
Sarcastically asserts that those in question thoroughly deserve their fate.
couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery
Is unable even to organise a project that requires no planning; is incompetent; used to de…
couldn't stop a pig in a passage
To be bow-legged.
count angels on pinheads
To focus on obtaining the correct details of something which are largely irrelevant or uni…
count noses
To count people one at a time.
count one's blessings
To focus one's attention on the circumstances of one's life which are pleasant or fortunat…
count one's days
To prepare for imminent retribution or termination.
count sheep
To attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring, traditionally by counting imagi…
count to five
Synonym of count to ten.
count to ten
An expression used to describe or recommend a process for pausing to regain one's composur…
count to three
Synonym of count to ten.
country mile
A long way, a great distance.
courage of one's convictions
Steadfast adherence to one's beliefs or principles, especially in the face of criticism or…
court of public opinion
The news media and the public at large, seen as being able to deliver a judgement on someo…
covenant of salt
A long-lasting agreement.
cover one's bases
To be thorough; to prepare thoroughly or completely.
cover someone's ass
To make preparations or take precautions to ensure that a person is not blamed or punished…
cover up
To conceal or disguise.
cow juice
Cow’s milk.
cowboy killer
A cigarette.
cowboy shower
A simple shower in a horse trailer's living area to remove the dirt and grime associated w…
cowboy up
To put on a more heterosexual manner, in order to fit in.
cowgirl position
A sex position in which the man lies on his back, and the woman sits on top of him facing …
crab mentality
A phenomenon in which a person or a group of people attempt to hinder the progress or succ…
crack a crust
To make a living.
crack a fat
To get an erection of the penis.
crack a smile
To smile, especially while attempting not to.
crack down
To take harsh action (against), as when enforcing a law more stringently than before.
crack of dawn
The first moment of daylight; the instant at which sunrise begins.
crack through
To penetrate
crack up
To laugh.
cradle robber
A person who marries or becomes romantically involved with someone who is much younger, or…
cradle snatcher
A person who prefers to date people significantly younger than themselves.
cramp someone's style
To restrict someone's free action or expression.
crank one's hog
To masturbate by stimulating one's penis.
crank out
To produce in large volumes mechanically or as if by machine.
crank the handle
To perform a process; to do some work.
crank up
To muster up the mental energy to do something.
crap up
To ruin, botch, bungle; to make a mess of.
crash course
A quick, intense course of learning, especially one which is informal or hurried.
crash dive
To perform a crash dive.
crawl before one walks
To learn the basics before doing something at a more advanced level.
crawl into a hole
To hide or disappear due to feelings of extreme embarrassment, shame, or helplessness; to …
crawl over each other
To compete with others eagerly or fiercely in pursuit of the same goal(s).
crawl with
To include or be covered with swarms or large numbers of (something, especially insects or…
crazy enough to work
Acknowledging that an idea, plan, or strategy seems foolish, implausible, or risky, yet mi…
cream in one's coffee
Something that one relishes.
cream in one's jeans
To ejaculate while wearing one's trousers; to experience an orgasm while clothed.
cream of the crop
The best or most desirable among some selection.
cream the crop
To pick out the most valuable or desirable things or people from a group for one's own int…
creature comfort
Any small item or detail that makes a person feel comfortable and at home.
creature feature
A horror film in which one or more monsters plays a prominent role.
creature of habit
One who is prone to routine.
creature of statute
A body created by legislation, especially a public body.
creature of the night
A prostitute.
crème de la crème
Best of the best; something superlative; the very best.
crescent spanner
An open-end adjustable spanner with a worm-drive thumbwheel. When the term adjustable span…
criss-cross applesauce
(of sitting): Cross-legged.
crocodile tear
A tear shed insincerely, in a false display of sorrow or some other emotion.
crony capitalism
A form of capitalism in which success in business depends on corrupt close relationships w…
crop up
To occur, especially suddenly or unexpectedly.
cross my heart
A declaration that the speaker is telling the truth.
cross my heart and hope to die
Added to a promise or a statement to show how serious one was about being honest in what o…
cross of gold
A public policy which puts the interests of the rich ahead of those of the poor.
cross off
To strike out; to cross out; to draw a line through.
cross out
To strike out (something); to draw a line through (something).
cross paths
To be, by chance, in the same physical place at the same time, as a result of two complete…
cross someone's palm
To pay for goods or a service.
cross someone's path
To meet someone by chance.
cross swords
To quarrel or argue with someone; to have a dispute with someone.
cross that bridge when one comes to it
To deal with a problem or situation only if and when it arises.
cross the aisle
To vote, unite, or otherwise co-operate with members of another political party in order t…
cross the line
To overstep a boundary, rule, or limit; to go too far or do something unacceptable.
cross the Rubicon
To make an irreversible decision or to take an action with consequences.
cross the Thames
Alternative form of swim the Thames.
cross the Tiber
Alternative form of swim the Tiber.
cross to bear
A problem, or unpleasant or painful situation or person that one has to accept and deal wi…
cross to take up
Alternative form of cross to bear.
crowd in on
To join when not wanted; to force one's way into a situation where one is unwelcome.
crowd sail
To carry an unusual amount of sail in an attempt to accelerate the speed of a vessel.
cruel mistress
Something which has both significant positive and negative aspects.
crunch numbers
To figure; to do the math.
crush it
To do something excellently
cry all the way to the bank
To be happy due to the receipt of money, but sad about the cause.
cry cupboard
To want or need food; to show signs of hunger.
cry down
To condemn, disparage.
cry for help
Acting out as a means of displaying a subconscious desire for attention or help.
cry foul
To protest about something which appears to be unjust.
cry in one's beer
To feel sorry for oneself; to feel sadness or regret, especially in combination with self-…
cry one's eyes out
To weep for an elongated time, or in an excessive manner.
cry oneself to sleep
To cry until or to fall asleep.
cry over spilt milk
To worry about unfortunate events which have already happened and which cannot be changed.
cry someone a river
To weep profusely or excessively in the presence of another person.
cry the blues
To complain, especially in order to obtain sympathy for one's own purportedly sad situatio…
cry wolf
To raise a false alarm; to constantly warn others about an imagined threat, thereby failin…
crying shame
A situation that is considered to be a disgrace, or deplorable.
crystal clear
Completely clear (in various senses).
crystal dick
Erectile dysfunction caused by methamphetamine use or other drug use.
cue up
To set up people or things so as to be ready for their cues (such as backstage).
culture hero
A mythical character or real person who is renowned as the exemplar of the values or achie…
cum grano salis
With a grain of salt; with a bit of common sense and skepticism.
cup of joe
A cup of coffee.
cup of tea
An activity or domain in which someone is interested or skilled in; one's personal prefere…
curate's egg
A thing which has good and bad parts, but is overall spoiled by the bad.
curb appeal
The visual attractiveness which a house, commercial establishment, or other real estate pr…
curb crawler
A prostitute's client, especially one who travels in a car to search for a prostitute.
curiouser and curiouser
Used to describe or react to an increasingly mysterious or peculiar situation.
curl someone's hair
To frighten, dismay, or excite someone thoroughly.
curry favor
To seek to gain favor by flattery or attention.
cut a dash
To make a display of oneself; to give a conspicuous impression.
cut a deal
To reach a negotiated agreement.
cut a figure
To present an image; to make an impression.
cut a rug
To dance, especially in a vigorous manner and in one of the dance styles of the first half…
cut a swath
Alternative form of cut a wide swath.
cut a wide swath
To behave in an expansive, flagrantly showy, or pushy manner, especially in public venues;…
cut about
To go around (move from person to person).
cut above
Superior to the norm.
cut and dried
Simple, straightforward, clear, or certain.
cut and thrust
The use of vehement arguments.
cut away one's soul
To be extremely displeased.
cut bait
To give up on something in order to pursue something else.
cut below
Inferior to the norm.
cut both ways
To have both benefits and drawbacks.
cut corners
To do a less-than-thorough or incomplete job; to do something poorly; to take inappropriat…
cut down
To insult, to belittle.
cut down the tall poppy
To belittle or undermine someone who is perceived as superior or more successful and accom…
cut down to size
To humble or humiliate, especially someone or something that is perceived as overly domine…
cut from the same cloth
Of two or more persons or things, very similar; possessing many of the same fundamental ch…
cut in
To intrude or interrupt.
cut it
To suffice; to be effective or successful.
cut it out
Synonym of knock it off.
cut loose
To loosen or set free someone or something.
cut of one's jib
A person's general appearance, manner, or style.
cut off one's nose to spite one's face
To harm oneself as a result of attempting to harm an adversary.
cut one loose
To flatulate; to fart.
cut one's cloth to suit one's purse
To settle for less when money or resources are limited.
cut one's coat according to one's cloth
To live within one's means, without spending more than is affordable.
cut one's teeth
To begin; to gain early experience.
cut out
Well suited; appropriate; fit for a particular activity or purpose.
cut red tape
To reduce bureaucracy.
cut someone loose
To let someone go from something, such as a position, relationship, or obligation.
cut someone some slack
To make allowances for someone, and not treat a failure severely.
cut swathes
Synonym of cut a wide swath.
cut the cheese
To fart loudly.
cut the cord
To end a child's overdependence on or overattachment to their parents.
cut the mustard
To achieve the expected standard; to be effective or good enough; to suffice.
cut the pigeon wing
To dance with graceful or fancy movements.
cut the umbilical cord
To end a child's overdependence on or overattachment to their parents.
cut through
To dispense with or quickly deal with (an issue that is seen as an obstruction or waste of…
cut to pieces
To utterly defeat or overwhelm.
cut to the chase
To get to the point; to get on with it; to state something directly.
cut up
Emotionally upset; mentally distressed.
cut up nasty
To become angry; to make a fuss.
cut up rough
To become angry; to make a fuss.
cutting edge
The forefront, or position of greatest advancement in some field.